All Commentary
Thursday, July 12, 2007

British Researchers Contend Fat Tax Could Save Lives


“A lsquo;fat tax’ on salty, sugary and fatty foods could save thousands of lives each year, according to a study published on Thursday. Researchers at Oxford University say that charging Value Added Tax (VAT) at 17.5 percent on foods deemed to be unhealthy would cut consumer demand and reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes.” (Reuters, Thursday)

But what about the dangers of a super-sized Nanny State?

FEE Timely Classic

Are Dietary Guidelines a Public Good?by Robert E. Wright